Panel guide structure for tub enclosures and the like



M. s. RIFKIN 3,350,739

PANEL GUIDE STRUCTURE FOR TUB ENCLOSURES AND THE LIKE Nov. 7, 1967 Filed May 2, 1966 FIG. 5

2 I INVENTOR MORTON S. RIFKIN )jm hlmww United States Patent Ofiiice 3,350,739 Patented Nov. 7, 1967 3,350,739 PANEL GUIDE STRUCTURE FOR TUB ENCLOSURES AND THE LIKE Morton s. Rifkin, 6261 sw. 26th St., Miami, Fla. 3315s Filed May 2, 1966, Ser. N0. 546,923 4 Claims. 01. 16-90) This invention relates to panel guides but is more particularly directed to a panel guide structure for tub and shower enclosures.

All panel guides or tracks for tub and shower enclosures must provide for the return of water back into the tub or shower that flows down the panels and accumulates in the tracks. The present tracks are provided with Weep holes which will cause water caught in the panel guides to flow back into the tub or shower enclosure. However, after a very short time, because the tracks are difficult to keep clean, these weep holes clog up with grime, soap, etc. and water will accumulate in the tracks, spill over into the bathroom and stagnate in the tracks if not removed by such laborious methods as by use of a sponge. The present invention contemplates providing a panel guide construction which cannot collect and retain water under any circumstances and which is readily cleaned.

Therefore, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a panel guide or track for tub and shower enclosures which will readily return the water to the tub or shower that flows from the panels into track so that water cannot accumulate in the track under any circumstances.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tub or shower enclosure panel guide which consists of two parts, namely an L-shaped elongated guide support and a plurality of panel guide inserts slidably mounted in position to prevent the accumulation of water in the guide support yet permit the proper guiding and supporting of the panels therein.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tub or shower enclosure panel guide described as above which permits the ready cleaning of the panel guide by permitting the sliding of the inserts in the guide support.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a tub or shower enclosure panel guide which is simple in construction, inexpensive in cost and most effective to prevent water and grime to collect in the track by not fastening the inserts in place and thereby making it very simple to clean any grime, dirt, etc. that may accumulate in the track.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a tub or shower enclosure constructed in accordance with my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1 with the panels shown by dotted lines.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of a panel guide insert.

FIGURE 5 is atop plan view thereof.

Referring to the drawing wherein like numerals are used to designate similar parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 refers to a panel guide structure forming a part of the frame for panels 11. The remainder of the framework consists of side members 12 and a header 13 which are of conventional construction and constitute no part of this invention.

The panel guide structure 10 consists of an L-shaped elongated extruded member L on which a plurality of panel guide member or inserts G are slidably secured as best shown by FIGURE 2. The extruded member L which extends the full width of the frame having its ends secured to the side frame members 12 in a conventional manner consists of a base portion 14 and a flange portion positioned along the front edge of the base portion and extending upwardly at slightly more than degrees therefrom. The extruded member L is provided foot portions 16 and 17 that extend along the rear and front edges respectively of the base portion 14. The front foot portion 17 is slightly longer in height than the rear foot portion 16 so that when the extruded member L is placed on a tub or shower room, the front flange portion 15 will extend exactly vertically while the base portion 14 will extend rearwardly in a slightly downwardly inclined position to compel any water flowing on the panel guide structure 10 to flow ofii the base portion 14 and into the tub or shower enclosure.

The top edge of the flange portion 15 extends horizontally as at 18 and is provided with a depending edge portion 19 to form an open slot 20 which faces downwardly. In opposed and aligned relation with the slot 20 is a slot 21 formed in the juncture of the foot portion and the base portion 14 and facing upwardly in coplanar relation With the downwardly facing slot 20. At the juncture of the base portion 14 and the foot portion 16 there is an open slot 22 having an undercut side wall 23 which faces rearwardly extending along the full length of the member L.

The guide member or inserts G that are slidably positioned 0n the extruded base member L are provided with shoulders or lip portions that are received by the slots 20, 21 and 22 to secure the inserts G to the member L yet permit the sliding movement thereon. The inserts G consist of a base member 25 at the edges of which extend depending lip portions 26 and 27. The lip portion 26 is received by the groove or slot 21 of the member L while the lip portion 27 is received by the slot 22. The lip portion 27 is undercut as at 28 to permit the lip portion 27 to be received by the undercut slot 22 and prevent the lip portion 27 from leavingthe slot 22 when the insert G is subjected to forces other than that which causes the panel guide insert to slide along the elongated member L.

At either end of the base member 25 are upwardly extending wall members 30 and 3 1 with a spacer member 32 extending upwardly from the midportion of the base member 25 forming the slots or grooves 33 and 34 in which the panels 11 slide. The upper edge portion of the front wall 31 is slotted as at 35 to form a shoulder 36 that is received by the slot 20 of the front wall 15 while the depending edge portion 19 is received by the slot 35 of the insert G.

In the fabrication of a frame for panels 11 for a tub or shower enclosure, the panel guide frame 10 is first cut to the desired length and the proper number of panel guide inserts G slidably positioned on the L-shaped extruded member L. This is done by placing the edge of the inserts G at the end of the extruded member L with the lips 26 and 27 of the inserts aligned with the slots 21 and 22 of the member L and the shoulder 19 of the extruded member L in alignment with the slot 35 of the insert G. Then by merely pushing sideways on the insert G, the latter will slide along the extrusion L to its proper position thereon.

As best shown by FIGURE 2, it is preferred that one insert G be placed at the middle of the L-shaped extruded member L while the adjacent inserts G are placed at a distance equal to approximately one-half the width of the panel 11 and the end inserts be placed the distance of onehalf the width of the panel 11 from the ends of the extrusion L. By this arrangement the panels 11 will always be supported by three inserts G. However, this arrangement of inserts may be varied as desired. For instance, the insert G at the middle of the extrusion L may be omitted, if desired without affecting the proper operation of the panels 11.

After the remainder of the frame has been assembled in the conventional manner, the lower surface of the L- shaped member L between the foot portions 16 and 17 is sealed with caulking compound and the frame is then fastened into place on a tub on the floor of a shower stall. The panels 11 are then hung on the overhead tracks mounted in the header 13 with the lower edge of the panels 11 positioned in the slots 33 and 34 of the inserts G.

If it is desired to limit the sliding movement of the inserts G the undercut portion 23 of the slot 22 may be deformed by striking same with an instrument on either or both sides of the insert G thereby preventing the insert to slide beyond that position. Also if for any reason an insert G must be replaced after the frame has been fabricated and erected, an insert G may be snapped in position on the member L. This may be accomplished by placing the lip portion 27 of the insert G against the slot 22 of the extrusion L. The end wall 31 will abut against the top edge 18 of the front flange 15. With the jaws of a pair of pliers engaging the outer surface of the front flange 15 and the inner surface of the end wall 31, upon squeezing the pliers, the end wall 31 being made of plastic will spring into position with the lip 26 sliding into the slot 21 and the shoulder 36 sliding past lip 19 to permit the slot 35 to receive the lip 19 and secure the insert G into sliding position on the extruded member L. Note there is no need of any fasteners such as screws and the like for retaining the insert G on the extruded member L. Now when water is sprayed on the panels 11, the water will flow downwardly to the extruded member L, down the inclined base portion 14 of the extruded member L and over the edge 16 to flow back into the tub or shower stall. The front flange 15 of the extruded member L prevents any spilling of water beyond the front of the tub or shower enclosure frame 10.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A panel guide structure comprising an elongated base member having a slot along one edge portion, a

front wall extending upwardly along said one edge portion of said base member adjacent said slot, a flange portion mounted at the free edge of said front wall and extending in the same direction as said base member, a second slot, on said flange portion extending substantially its full length and facing downwardly in alignment with said first named slot, foot portions mounted along each edge portion of said elongated base member for elevating said base member, a third slot, on said base member extending along the other of said edge portion and panel guide insert means removably mounted on said elongated base member forming a plurality of channel means for receiving and guiding panels therealong.

2. The structure as recited by claim 1 wherein one of said foot portions is shorter than the other of said foot portion to effect a sloping of said elongated base member in the direction of said third slot.

3. The structure as recited by claim 1 wherein said panel guide insert means comprises a base portion having a wall extending upwardly at each end of said base portion, a lip portion extending downwardly along one end of said base portion and received by said first named slot, a second lip portion mounted along the free end of said wall positioned at said one end of said base portion, said second lip portion being received by said second slot, a third lip portion extending downwardly along the other of said end of said base portion, said third lip portion being received by said third slot of said base member and a further wall mounted on said base member substantially midway between said end walls forming said plurality of channels for receiving and guiding panels on said base member.

4. An insert for a panel guide structure comprising a base portion, a wall mounted on said base portion and extending upwardly along each end of said base portion, a lip portion extending downwardly along one end of said base portion, a second lip portion mounted along the free end of one of said walls, a third lip portion extending downwardly along the other of said end of said base portion and a further wall mounted on said base member substantially equal distant from said end walls thereby forming a plurality of channels for receiving and guiding panels therealong.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1967 Hentzi 16-90 3/ 1967 Klavon 49-408 

1. A PANEL GUIDE STRUCTURE COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BASE MEMBER HAVING A SLOT ALONG ONE EDGE PORTION, A FRONT WALL EXTENDING UPWARDLY ALONG SAID ONE EDGE PORTION OF SAID BASE MEMBER ADJACENT SAID SLOT, A FLANGE PORTION MOUNTED AT THE FREE EDGE OF SAID FRONT WALL AND EXTENDING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AS SAID BASE MEMBER, A SECOND SLOT, ON SAID FLANGE PORTION EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY ITS FULL LENGTH AND FACING DOWNWARDLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FIRST NAMED SLOT, FOOT PORTIONS MOUNTED ALONG EACH EDGE PORTION OF SAID ELONGATED BASE MEMBER FOR ELEVATING SAID BASE MEMBER, A THIRD SLOT, AN SAID BASE MEMBER EXTENDING ALONG THE OTHER OF SAID EDGE PORTION AND PANEL GUIDE INSERT MEANS REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID ELONGATED 